又中又英｜Ring in the new year

Only a few days remain before we say goodbye to 2024 and ring in the new year. To ring in the new year means to mark the beginning of a fresh start and to celebrate the arrival of a new year. The expression is said to have originated from the old tradition of ringing bells at the start of a new year. Many historical events occurred in 2024. Artificial Intelligence (AI) made great strides during the year. To make great strides means to make significant progress. American doctors successfully transplanted a pig kidney into a human. The patient survived for three months. It was a great stride in organ transplant.

China became the first country to bring back rocks from the far side of the moon. Two private American astronauts successfully completed the first commercial spacewalk. Both were great strides in space exploration. A rebel group overthrew President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, reshaping Middle East politics. Former US President Donald Trump was found guilty of covering up a sex scandal, but voters again elected him to be president after a four-year break, making him the first US president with a criminal record. France restored and reopened the 860-year-old Notre-Dame Cathedral five years after it was nearly destroyed by a fire.

What will 2025 bring? I won’t hazard a guess. To hazard a guess means to risk guessing something that may turn out to be wrong. I won’t hazard a guess but will keep my chin up. To keep your chin up means to stay cheerful and hopeful, especially during difficult times. Every new year brings some difficulties, but it’s important to keep your chin up. Happy New Year!

还有数天我们便要跟2024说再见，然后ring in the new year——to ring in the new year是指去迎接一个全新的开始，庆祝新一年的到临。据说这个习语是源自在新一年开始的时候敲钟的古老传统。2024年有许多历史性的事件发生。人工智能在这一年made great strides——to make great strides是指大有进步。美国医生们成功将一个猪的肾脏移植至人体，那名病人再存活了三个月。这是器官移植的长足发展 （great stride）。

中国成为首个从月球另一面采样带回岩石的国家。美国两个民营企业的太空人成功完成首个商业太空漫步。这两样都是太空探索的重大进展（great strides）。敍利亚一个反抗组织推翻了总统巴沙尔‧阿萨德，重塑中东的政治局势。前美国总统唐纳德‧特朗普在隐瞒性丑闻案件中罪名成立，但选民仍然在他卸任的四年后再度选他为总统，令他成为第一位有刑事案底的美国总统。有860年历史的巴黎圣母院，五年前几近被大火摧毁，法国终成功将其修复及重新开放。

2025年又会带来甚么呢？我就不会hazard a guess。To hazard a guess是指去冒险猜度一些事情，但可能最终会估错的。我不会大胆估计（hazard a guess），但我会keep my chin up。To keep your chin up是指保持干劲和抱有希望，尤其是在艰难的时候。每一个新年都会有一些新的难处，但去振作起来（keep your chin up）是非常重要的。新年快乐！

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Michael Chugani褚简宁
中译：七刻